The best running trails in Ouachita National Forest

Brush Heap Mountain marks one of the steepest climbs on the Athens-Big Fork Trail, with this junction sitting near the top of a long, rocky ascent. The trail levels briefly at the saddle, offering a chance to catch your breath before the descent. Views are limited at the junction itself, but if you’re feeling ambitious, you can take the short (0.2-mile) boot trail for a better vantage point to take in the scenery, but be prepared to do some bushwhacking.

Long Creek is a quiet, slow-moving stream that typically flows year-round. Depending on the season, the water can be ankle-deep or just low enough to rock-hop across, keeping your feet dry. It’s quiet and shaded, making it an ideal spot to take a break before the next steep ridge climb.

This short spur trail is just under a half mile long and leads to an incredible viewpoint with sweeping views of the Ouachita Mountains. It’s a quick five-minute detour that rewards you with one of the loop’s best panoramic vistas and is an ideal spot to take an incredibly scenic lunch break before continuing on the trail.

The Athens-Big Fork Trail cuts through the rugged heart of the Ouachita Mountains, climbing over six major ridgelines in just nine miles. It’s a steep, rocky route with more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain and limited water sources, so come prepared for a tough but rewarding hike. Whether you’re tackling it as part of the Eagle Rock Loop or on its own, the trail delivers sweeping views and a true taste of the Ouachita backcountry.

Hot Springs National Park, tucked into the city of Hot Springs, Arkansas, protects 47 thermal springs that have drawn people for centuries. Unlike most national parks, it’s in an urban setting; historic bathhouses line Bathhouse Row, offering a window into the heyday of 20th-century spa culture. You can still soak in the mineral-rich waters today. If you want to get out of the historic town, however, forested trails wind through the surrounding Ouachita Mountains, with overlooks and quiet picnic spots above the town. It's a unique blend of preserved wilderness, geothermal geology, and living history, all within walking distance of downtown.

The Hot Springs National Park Historic Baths Walk takes you past the iconic bathhouses that made this area famous. Running along Bathhouse Row, the paved route winds through the heart of downtown Hot Springs, where you’ll see early 20th-century buildings like the Fordyce, Buckstaff, and Quapaw, each with its own story in the park’s long spa tradition. Interpretive signs and restored architecture offer a glimpse into the era when this was a major health destination. It’s a short, accessible walk and you can still step inside for a soak, just as visitors did a century ago.

A prominent feature along the Eagle Rock Loop Trail with picturesque views over the diverse landscape of dense forests and rocky terrain in the Ouachitas.

The historic Arlington Resort Hotel and Spa is the largest hotel in Arkansas with over 500 rooms and suites and has hosted such icons as AL Capone, Babe Ruth, Johnny Cash, Marilyn Monroe, and presidents John F. Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, and Bill Clinton. The Arlington Hotel has been the premiere resort in the south since 1875.